The voice of my companion brought me back to "hello! somebody comin' our way," he was saying. "and d'ye hear that? he's comin' fast. walking right along. guess he don't hear us yet. wind's in wrong direction."
the fresh breeze was blowing right down upon us, and i could hear the whistle plainly, off to one side and a little ahead.
"ferry-boat? " i asked.
he nodded, then added, "or he wouldn't be keepin' up such a clip." he gave a short chuckle. "they're gettin' anxious up there."
i glanced everything happened, and with inconceivable rapidity. the fog seemed to break away as though split by a wedge, and the bow of a steamboat emerged, trailing fog-wreaths on either side like seaweed on the snout of
"grab hold of something and hang on," the red-faced man said to me. all his bluster had gone, and he seemed to have caught the contagion of preternatural calm. "and listen to the women scream," he said grimly—almost bitterly, i thought, as though he had been through the experience before.
the vessels came together before i could follow his advice. we must have been struck squarely amidships, for i saw nothing, the strange steamboat having passed beyond my line of vision. the martinez heeled over, sharply, and there was a crashing and rending of timber. i was thrown flat on the wet deck. what happened in the next few minutes i do not recollect, though i have a clear remembrance of pulling down life-preservers from the overhead racks, while the red-faced man fastened them about the bodies of an hysterical group of women. a tangled mass of women, with drawn, white faces and open mouths, is shrieking like a chorus of lost souls; and the red-faced man, his face now purplish with wrath, and with arms extended overhead as in the act of hurling thunderbolts, is shouting, "shut up! oh, shut up! "
the horror of it drove me out on deck. i was feeling sick and squeamish, and sat down on a bench. in a hazy way i saw and heard men rushing and shouting as they strove to lower the boats. nothing worked. one boat lowered away with the plugs out, filled with women and children and then with water, and capsized. another boat had been lowered by one end, and still hung in the tackle by the other end, where it had been abandoned. nothing was to be seen of the strange steamboat which had caused the disaster, though i heard men saying that she would undoubtedly send boats to our assistance.
i descended to the lower deck. the martinez was sinking fast, for the water was very near. numbers of the passengers were leaping overboard, while others, in the water, were clamouring to be taken aboard again. no one heeded them. as a cry arose that we were sinking, i was seized by the consequent panic, and went over the side in a surge of bodies. how i went over i do not know, though i did know, and instantly, why those in the water were so desirous of getting back on the steamer. the water was cold—so cold that it was painful. the pang, as i plunged into it, was as quick and sharp as that of fire, and it bit to the marrow. i gasped with the anguish and shock of it, filling my lungs before the life-preserver popped me to the surface. the taste of the salt was strong in my mouth, and i was strangling with the acrid stuff in my throat and lungs.
i felt myself slipping into unconsciousness, and tried with all the power of my will to fight above the suffocating blankness and darkness that was rising around me. a little later i heard the stroke of oars, growing nearer and nearer, and the calls of a man. when he was very near i heard him crying, in vexed fashion, "why don't you sing out? " this meant me, i thought, and then the blankness and darkness rose over me.
5
select all the correct answers.
which two statements show how the narrative point of view develops the passage?
it highlights the contrast between the speaker and the red-faced man.
it allows the reader to understand the anxiety of the speaker.
it highlights the speaker's dismissal of women.
it demonstrates the power of community in times of disaster.
it allows the reader to see the speaker's ease with navigating ships.